Guard assembly for a saw blade

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a guard assembly for a saw blade, which includes an inner guard portion and an outer guard portion. The inner and outer guard portions define a containing space therebetween. A circular saw blade includes two parallel sides and a rotating axis perpendicular to the two sides. At least a portion of the saw blade is located within the containing space. The outer guard portion is pivotally connected with the inner guard portion about a pivotal axis which is substantially parallel to each side of the blade. The improved guard assembly, which can be opened laterally, is convenient to change the saw blade and to clean the inner of the guard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/788,044, filed Jan. 10, 2012, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 200620072901.2 filed Apr. 25, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a guard assembly for a saw blade, and specially, it relates to a guard which can be opened laterally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During operation of a cutting machine with a high-speed rotating saw blade, to avoid the operator being hurt by the saw blade in the case of contacting it carelessly, typically a protective device, i.e. a guard, is arranged to cover at least a portion of the circumference of the saw blade.

A guard assembly is known includes an inner guard portion and an outer guard portion, which can be engaged to each other. Normally, at least a portion of the saw blade is received in a space formed by the two blade portions. The outer guard portion is pivotable relative to the inner one about an axis parallel to a rotating axis of the saw blade. When it is needed to replace the saw blade, a fixing device between the two guard portions is released, and then the outer guard portion can be rotated upwards to a predetermined angle relative to the inner guard portion to expose the fixing flange of the blade, and the blade can be removed and replaced subsequently. After a new blade is fixed, the outer guard portion can be pivoted back to the original position and fixed with the inner guard portion. Yet, in most cases the saw blade can't be completely exposed to facilitate blade changing, and it is inconvenient to clean the inner side of the guard assembly. Furthermore, the guard as aforementioned is not applicable in some cases. For example, when a protrudent laser device is disposed at the front of the inner guard portion, the outer guard portion will be stopped by the laser device from rotating further.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a guard assembly for a saw blade which can be opened laterally. The improved guard assembly is convenient for use and cleaning, as well as for being attached with some accessories.

To achieve such an object, the guard assembly of the present invention comprises an inner guard portion and an outer guard portion which define a containing space therebetween. A circular saw blade includes two parallel sides and a rotating axis perpendicular to the two sides. At least a portion of the saw blade is located within the containing space. The outer guard portion is pivotally connected with the inner guard portion about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the rotating axis. The guard assembly further comprises a fixing device for fastening the outer guard portion to the inner guard portion.

The present invention provides a saw blade guard assembly with improved opening manner, i.e. the outer guard portion can be opened laterally relative to the inner guard portion. It overcomes the drawback that the outer guard portion can't be opened without limit to completely expose the blade according to the prior art. Moreover the improved guard is convenient to use and be cleaned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tile cutter of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the guard assembly in FIG. 1 with the outer guard portion opened.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the guard assembly in FIG. 1 with the outer guard portion opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a tile cutter 10 of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. The tile cutter 10 comprises a base 11, a water basin 12, a guide rail 13, a table 14, a supporting arm 15 and a cutting assembly 16. The water basin 12 is disposed below the base 11. The guide rail 13 is mounted on the base 11 for slidably supporting the table 14 thereon. The supporting arm 15 is fixed on the base 11 for supporting the cutting assembly 16. The cutting assembly 16 comprises a motor 17, a gear box 41 and a cutting unit 18. A portion of the gear box 41 is connected with the supporting arm 15. The gearbox 41 is connected with the motor 17 at one end, and is connected with the cutting unit 18 at the other end. The cutting unit 18 includes a saw blade 19 and a guard assembly 20. The saw blade 19, which is driven by the motor 17, is installed on an output shaft of the gear box 41.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the guard assembly 20 for the saw blade 19 in the opened state. As shown in the figures, the guard assembly 20 comprises an inner guard portion 21 and an outer guard portion 22 which define a containing space therebetween when fixed to each other. At least a portion of the saw blade 19 is contained in the space. The saw blade 19 has two parallel sides and a rotating axis 42 which is perpendicular to the two sides. A laser device 23 is fixed at one end of the inner guard portion 21. The laser device 23 comprises a fixing plate 24 extending inwardly from the peripheral edge of the inner guard portion 21. The fixing plate 24 comprises an inner threaded hole 25. A fixing device 27 is mounted on the outer guard portion 22, which comprises a screw 26 and a knob 29. When the inner and outer guard portions 21, 22 are closed, the screw 26 can be screwed into the inner threaded hole 25 by rotating the knob 29, thus the two guard portions are locked together.

The guard assembly 20 further comprises connecting means, through which the outer guard portion 22 can be pivotally connected to the inner guard portion 21. The connecting means includes a first connecting member 30, which comprises a first portion 32 and a second portion 33. In the present preferred embodiment, the first portion 32 is a threaded rod, and the second portion 33 is a cylinder. The first and the second portion 32, 33 are coaxial and have a same central axis 31. A protruding member 50 is mounted at the other end of the inner guard portion 21. The protruding member 50 comprises a first sleeve 51 and a second sleeve 52. The first sleeve 51 is formed with a cylindrical through hole for receiving the second portion 33 of the first connection member 30. The second sleeve 52 is formed with a threaded hole 521 for engaging with the first portion 32 of the first connecting member 30, such that the first connecting member 30 is fixedly mounted to the inner guard portion 21. Correspondingly, the cylindrical through hole of the first sleeve 51 and the threaded hole of the second sleeve 52 are coaxial and have a same central axis 53. The outer guard portion 22 comprises a second protruding member 55. In the present embodiment, the second protruding member 55 is a sleeve with a cylindrical hole which receives therein the second portion 33 of the first connecting member 30, such that the outer guard portion 22 is pivotally connected to the inner guard portion through the first connecting member 30 connected therebetween. Those skilled in the art may easily recognize that the connecting means may have other shapes and configurations, and the positions of the two connecting members on the guard portions may be interchanged. The first and the second protruding members may be integrated with the inner guard portion or the outer guard portion respectively, or may be separately installed.

During operation of the saw blade 19, the inner and the outer guard portion 21, 22 are fixed together through the fixing device 27. When it is needed to open the guard assembly 20 to change the saw blade 19 or clean the guard assembly 20, the knob 29 can be rotated to unscrew the screw 26 from the threaded hole 25, then the outer guard portion 22 can be laterally pivoted about the axis 31 to completely expose the saw blade 19, which facilitates changing the saw blade 19 or cleaning the inner side of the guard assembly 20. The pivot axis 31 is substantially parallel to each side of the blade 19.

The present invention is not restricted as the embodiments disclosed hereinabove which just indicate the conceptive and principle of the present invention. Other embodiments in variations to the preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A guard assembly for use with a circular saw blade, comprising: a semicircular inner guard and a semicircular outer guard defining a space therebetween for enclosing an upper portion of the circular saw blade while exposing a lower portion of the saw blade, the semicircular inner guard having a lower opening for receiving a rotating axis of the saw blade; a connecting means including a first connecting member, a protruding member and a second connecting member, the connecting means pivotably mounting the inner guard to the outer guard about an pivotal axis such that the outer guard can be opened from the inner guard thereby exposing the saw blade; and, a fixing device for fastening the outer guard portion to the inner guard portion.
 2. The guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the semicircular inner and outer guards include a curvilinear edge and a substantially horizontal lower edge segment, and wherein the connecting means is located adjacent the intersection of the curvilinear edge and lower edge segment.
 3. The guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the protruding member includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve, wherein the first sleeve is adapted for receiving a second cylindrical portion of the first connection member and the second sleeve is adapted for receiving a first threaded portion of the first connection member.
 4. The guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the second connecting member includes a sleeve for engagement with the first and second sleeve of the protruding member and adapted for receiving the second portion of the first connecting member.
 5. The guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the saw blade has an inner surface oriented towards the inner guard and an outer surface oriented towards the outer guard, and wherein the opening of the outer guard exposes the outer surface of the saw blade.
 6. The guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotal axis is substantial vertically and substantially perpendicular to the rotating axis of the saw blade.
 7. The guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the fixing device comprises an actuator extending outward from the outer guard, the actuator operably connected to an elongated fastener that extends through the space when the outer guard is fastened to the inner guard.
 8. The guard assembly of claim 2, wherein the fixing device is located opposite the connecting means, and wherein the rotating axis is located between the fixing device and the connecting means.
 9. The guard assembly of claim 2, wherein the fixing device is located proximate a front terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards and the connecting means is located proximate a rear terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards.
 10. The guard assembly of claim 9, further comprising a laser device located proximate the fixing device.
 11. A guard assembly for use with a circular saw blade, comprising: an inner guard pivotally connected to an outer guard by a connecting means to define a space that receives an extent of a circular saw blade, the inner and outer guards having a curvilinear upper edge and a generally horizontal lower edge, wherein the inner guard has a lower opening that receives a rotating axis of the saw blade; the connecting means positioned proximate a rear terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards, the connecting means including a first connecting member, a protruding member including at least one sleeve, and a second connecting member having a sleeve that interacts with the sleeve of the protruding member to receive the first connecting member; and, a fixing device for fastening the outer guard portion to the inner guard portion.
 12. The guard assembly of claim 11, wherein the protruding member extends from the inner guard proximate the rear terminus of the curvilinear edge of the inner guard.
 13. The guard assembly of claim 11, wherein the saw blade has an inner surface oriented towards the inner guard and an outer surface oriented towards the outer guard, and wherein the opening of the outer guard exposes the outer surface of the saw blade.
 14. The guard assembly of claim 11, wherein the fixing device is located in a frontal region of the guard assembly and the connecting means is located in a rear region of the guard assembly, and wherein the rotating axis is located between the fixing device and the connecting means.
 15. The guard assembly of claim 11, further comprising a laser device positioned proximate a front terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards.
 16. The guard assembly of claim 15, wherein the laser device is secured to the inner guard proximate the front terminus of the curvilinear upper edge.
 17. The guard assembly of claim 12, wherein the second connecting member extends from the outer guard proximate the rear terminus of the curvilinear edge of the outer guard.
 18. The guard assembly of claim 14, wherein the fixing device is located proximate a front terminus of the curvilinear edge of the outer guard, the fixing device comprising an actuator operably connected to an elongated fastener that extends through the outer guard and into the space for reception by an opening in the inner guard.
 19. A guard assembly for use with a circular saw blade, comprising: a semicircular inner guard and a semicircular outer guard defining a space therebetween for receiving a portion of a circular saw blade, the semicircular inner guard having a lower portion with an arcuate opening for receiving a rotating axis of the saw blade; wherein the outer guard portion is pivotably mounted to the inner guard portion about a pivotal axis substantially parallel to each side of the saw blade, wherein the outer guard portion can be pivotally moved from the inner guard portion to expose the saw blade; a fixing device for fastening the outer guard portion to the inner guard portion; and, a connecting means, wherein the outer guard is pivotably mounted to the inner guard portion, the connecting means comprising a first protruding member, wherein the first protruding member is disposed on one of the inner guard and the outer guard, the first protruding member including a first sleeve and a second sleeve for receiving at least a portion of a first connecting member, and wherein the connecting means further comprises a second protruding member disposed on the other of the inner guard and the outer guard, the second protruding member including a third sleeve for receiving at least a portion of the first connecting member.
 20. The guard assembly of claim 19, wherein the connecting means is located along the curvilinear periphery of one of the semicircular inner guard and the semicircular outer guard.
 21. The guard assembly of claim 19, wherein the first connecting member has a first threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion.
 22. The guard assembly of claim 19, wherein the second protruding member includes an aperture for rotatably receiving the second portion of the first connecting member.
 23. The guard assembly of claim 19, wherein first connecting member is insertable through the first, second and third sleeves. 